We Got a Sneak Peek at “Capitol Hill’s” Insane Season 2

Stranger Genius Sarah Rudinoff EMOTES for Season Two of Wes Hurley’s epic web series, “Capitol Hill”. Photo: Matt Baume

Strange, otherworldly, hilarious, unpredictable — if Season 1 of the drag-obsessed web series Capitol Hill tickled your fancy, Season 2 will spontaneously curl your beard.

Local filmmaker Wes Hurley has once again gathered a fabulously talented cast and crew for fresh new episodes of his very-Seattle webseries. Last spring, the series broke everyone’s brains with a perfectly spot-on drag-queen tribute to the kitschy soap operas of the ’70s and ’80s starring Waxie Moon and a bevvy of local drag/burlesque talent.

The new season boasts a bigger cast, big surprises, and actual real-life honest-to-god soundstage set. They’ve also flown in big-name guests from around the country to round out the cast. “Season 2’s going to be much darker, edgier, sexier,” Hurley says. “More dramatic.”

We don’t want to give too much away, but you can look forward to seeing an uncomfortable meal, a mustache, a terrible secret, chest hair, extreme danger, a plot twist, and, as always, Portland jokes.

Director Wes Hurley with Ballet Corps including boylesque legend, The Luminous Pariah (with bandana in hand) on the set of “Capitol Hill” series 2. Photo: Matt Baume

For now, most of Season 2 is in the can. But since it’s an all-volunteer effort, shoots depend largely on coordinating a tangled web of availabilities, mostly during nights and weekends. The whole thing’s a labor of love for all involved.

We dropped by a recent shoot at a dance studio on Capitol Hill to see how it’s going. A small army of nearly-naked dancers spun around in front of mirrors, strategically bending over to expose their muscle-y butts, then rising back up to shake some deliriously tacky ’70s wigs at each other.

That night featured a smallish crew, since they were just shooting a little featurette about one of the new characters, an insane Russian ballerina. Wes Hurley held a boom mic above actress Sarah Rudinoff as she shouted into the camera, slender torsos engaged in basic barre behind her.

Mr. Hurley directing his Diva, Miss Rudinoff.
Photo: Matt Baume

But other shooting days have boasted a crew of 40 and scenes so elaborate they look more like an HBO shoot than a webisode.

Premier date: Season 2 of “Capitol Hill” is screening every Monday night at R Place during their RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing party hosted by “Capitol Hill” co-star, Robbie Turner. For further screening information, like their FB page!

Check out all the behind the scene photos here: seattlegayscene.com/photo-gallery

Hard at work on series 2 of “Capitol Hill”. Photo: Matt Baume